Abraham Foxman, who has lead the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for 30 years, announced that he will be retiring this month.

Foxman began his career with the ADL in 1965 when he graduated from law school and rose to be the group’s head in 1987.  Under his leadership, the group has become a $60 million a year organization that runs anti-bias programs, monitors anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world along with advocating for Jews and Israel.

Foxman received praise from all corners of the political world after his announcement.

“Abe is one of the three or four people you have to speak to on any given issue,” said former White House official Jarrod Bernstein, who did Jewish outreach during President Barack Obama’s first term.

“Abe was like an uncle to me. If you did something he thought you were on the wrong side of, he was going to let you know about it,” Bernstein told JTA. “On the flip side, if he thought you were being treated unfairly, or you did something right, he wouldn’t hesitate to say that either. That’s important and we need more of that in the American Jewish community.”

Foxman believes that the work of the ADL is the reason the United States has some of the lowest incidents of anti-Semitism in the world.

“I don’t take credit for it, but I’m part of the effort — not only of the American Jewish community, but of decent people in this country, to fight it,” Foxman said.

“The most significant difference between the United States and the rest of the world is that in this country, there is a consequence to being a bigot and an anti-Semite. If you’re in commerce, if you’re in politics, if you’re in the arts — whatever it is — and you act out as an anti-Semite, you will pay a price.”

Foxman will be replaced by Jonathan Greenblatt, a White House aide.